4 Men Charged With Murder Of NC Teen Who May Have Been Abducted

Although African Americans make up just 13 percent of the U.S. population, we account for 33 percent of the missing in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s database. Cases involving African Americans also tend to receive less media coverage than missing Whites, with missing men of color getting even less attention.

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McLaurin’s remains may have been unearthed in the Seven area of Wayne County, North Carolina on Saturday.

According to NBC 17, four men have been arrested and charged with the teen’s murder:

Curtis Omar Etheredge, 17, of Goldsboro, turned himself in to Goldsboro Police Saturday afternoon in connection with McLaurin’s disappearance. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. Friday night Leonard Eugene Joyner, 21, also turned himself in to authorities in connection with the disappearance. He, too, was arrested and charged with murder. And Jerome Jilah Butts, 19, and Kevin Edward Smith, 18, were also arrested and charged with murder.

According to authorities, McLaurin was forced in to a late-model 1990s bluish/gray 4-door Oldsmobile by three or four unknown men at the 700 block of Bain Street in the Woodcrest Housing Community on September 9. McLaurin’s mother, Kimberly Best, said he failed to return home Sunday night and she contacted authorities.

According to the AP, police announced Friday that they believed McLaurin was dead. They said the crime was not gang-related or random. All four men are being held without bond.

When McLaurin went missing, an Amber Alert was issued and the family pleaded for the boy’s safe return.

McLaurin’s father, Ken McLaurin Sr., said his son was a high school junior who was thinking about college. He also loved boxing.

On Saturday, police announced they thought they had found McLaurin’s remains in the Seven Springs area. Confirmation hasn’t been released yet.